Golf-ball.



a. 2. 00am GOLF BALL. APPLICATION FILED uric. 14. ms

Patented. Feb. 5,1191%,

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' molded rubber portion of the ball before the GEES, llthfidAOHUSETTS. hsslldlt'tm, UFO it 1&1. It 1: l not orator HOME ISLAI li @UlLF-JBL.

Application filed December 1t, 1916. serial Ito. tracer.

f'oall whom it may concern Be it known that l, ll-lnlvrr Gone, a citizen. of the United States, residing at inchester, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful l'mprovementsin Golf-Balls, of which the following is a full, clear, and ex act description.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of resilient balls for playingdifferent games, and is particularly adapted for use in golf balls where the highest resiliency. combined with durability, is necessary. By the use of the construction hereinafter described, I find that a golf ball can be produced which is capable of being driven distances up to fifty yards or more farther than any othergorf ball heretofore produced, while at the'same time the resillency is such that the putting qualities are also greatly enhanced. Thatis, great resiliency only comes into action when the ball is given a heavy blow, as with a brassie or a drivin iron, while on the other hand, the ed'ect o a light blow for putting purposes is one resulting in less resiliency and greater accuracy. The method of construction also enables the ball to be manufactured with practically absolute symmetry and balance.

For a detailed description of'one form of golf ball which l[ at present deem preferable,

reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

\ Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a golf ball made according to my invention; ll ig. 2 is an elevation of the resilient molded rubber portion of the improved ball;

Fig. 3 is a view of the segregated parts of the elastic covering which is put over the rubber thread is wound thereon;

Fig. 4 is a view of the molded rubber portion of the ball having the thin rubber covering applied thereto" 1 Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of the molded rubber layer having parallel openings therein; and

Fig. 6 is a like view of a similar layer but. molded about the metallic core.

tpeeeetton 0t Lettera Watent.

which the ball may be Patented Feb. ll lldll Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a solid metallic core, such as an accurately made ball of steel, iron or other preferred metal. About this central core is molded a layer of rubber composition 2 or other elastic compound, which is vulcanized directly on the metallic core 1. This layer of rubber composition is provided with a plurality of symmetrically placed pockets or oles 3 which may extend through thecomposition to the metallic core, or only partly therethrough. It is necessary, however, that a number of these holes, preferably six, extend to the sides of the metallic core or ball in order that the pins which form the holes in the rubber composition may accurately hold the metallic core in position within the mold. The total number of holes in the ball may be varied according to the weight of 70 the ball desired and the nature of the compound, but I have found that fourteen is the. preferable number,that is four holes or pockets on the equatorial circumference, and five holes on each hemisphere. After the composition has been molded or vulcanized about the central core, the ball thus far formed is preferably covered with a 'thin layer or skin of vulcanized rubber, similar to that used in the manufacture of toy balloons. lhis may be applied in any desired way, but I prefer'to form a small bag or balloon b the well known dipping process em-' ploye in forming such thin sheets, of approximately the size of the sphere upon which it isto be placed, as indicated by the numeral 4 in Fig. 3. This when placed about the vulcanized rubber layer illustrated in Fig. 2. closely adheres to the same and is completed by cementing thereon a thin rubber cap, indicated by the numeral 5 in Fig. 3. The spherical" body thus formed is then wound with rubber thread, indicated by the numeral 6, stretched nearly to breaking point in any well known manner familiar to those skilled in the art. An outer layer of plastic material is then molded on the rubber thread, as indicated by the numeral'l'. For this purpose I prefer to use balat which has been freed of resinous impurities, after 100 painted or enameled y desired color.

, neous layer since the ball may be more accurately balanced by this construction than.

"In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a form of rubber or other elastic material which is provided with a series of straight holes 8 .passing entirely through the ball in a direction parallel to the one major axis, and in Fig.

6 I have shown the same construction used in connection with a metallic core, similar to that shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing; The

composition is appliedto the metallic core by molding the same as a complete homogewhere the parts are first molded and then applied by the use of cement.

have found that there is no difiiculty in removing a ball made as illustrated in Figs.

1 and 2 from the mold in spite of. the fact I that the pins which form thev air pockets other force.

converge toward the center. The air pockets thus formed are hermetically sealed by the thin jacket 4 of substantially pure rubber which incloses the molded rubber, thus confining the air and preventing the same from leaking out when the ball is distorted under pressure from the blow of a golf club, or However, this thin rubber jacket may be omitted if the pockets are accurately and tightly covered by the layers of rubberthread wound thereon. I have found,

however, that the molded layer is liable to less distortion when covered by a thin jacket of rubber. j

The use of the thin rubber jacket also allows internal adjustment of the molded elastic layer asregards the rubber thread wound thereon, thereby permitting equalization of the strains and pressure produced by these may be arranged in other ways, according to the preference-of the manufacturer.

Having thus described these forms of my invention, what 'I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A resilient ball comprising a metallic core, a layer of elastic composition molded thereon and having a plurality of closed air pockets in said composition, and an elastic layerunder tension for maintaining said aelastic composition and the air in said pockets under high compression.

2. A resilient ball comprising a metallic core, an intermediate layer of elastic commences position inolded thereon, and having therein for closingand sealing the ends of said air pockets, and an elastic layer under tension for maintaining said elastic composition and the airin said pockets under high 'compres sion.

3. A resilient ball comprising an internal layer of elastic composition having therein a lurality of outer air pockets, 9, layer of ru ber thread wound thereon under high tension and covering said pockets, and ezztlernal protective coating of plastic materia 4. A resilient ball comprising a metallic core, an intermediate layerof elastic composition molded thereon and having a. plurality of air pockets, 9. layer of rubber thread wound thereon under high tension and covering said pockets, and an external protective coating of hardened plastic material.

5. A resilient ball comprising a metallic core, an intermediate layer of elastic composition molded thereon and having therein a plurality of air pockets, a thin layer or jacket of pure rubber compound, a layer of rubber thread wound over said jacket under high tension, and an outer protective coating of hardened plastic material.

6. A resilient ball comprising, a layer of elastic composition having molded therein a plurality of air-pockets, a winding of-rubber thread under high tension thereon, said layer and the air in said pockets being compressed by the winding of rubber thread.

7.- A resilient ball comprising, a layer of elastic composition having molded therein a plurality of air pockets, a thin cover or jacket of vulcanized rubber for closing and sealing said pockets, a winding of rubber thread under high tension on said jacket, said'layer andthe air in said pockets being compressed by the winding of rubber thread.

8. A resilient ball comprising a metallic core, a layer of elastic composition molded thereon and having therein a plurality of outer air pockets, and a winding of rubber thread under high tension adapted to compress said rubber composition and the air within said pockets.

9. A resilient ball comprising a metallic core, a layer of elastic composition having a plurality of outer air pockets molded therein symmetrically around said core, a layer of rubber thread wound thereon under high tension, and an external layer of balata molded on said layer of rubber thread.

10. A resilient ball comprising an internal mass of elastic composition having a plurality of external air pockets molded therein symmetrically around the center of the same, a layer of rubber thread wound theremeeme in on under high tension, and an external layer closing and sealing said pockets, a layer 0% of balata molded on said layer of rubber rubber thread Wound thereon under high 10 thread. V tension, and an external layer of balata 11. A resilient ball comprising a metallic molded on said layer of rubber thread.

5 core, a layer of elastic composition having a Signed at New York, county and State of plurality of external air pockets molded New York, this 13th day of December, 1916. therein symmetrically around said core, a thin cover or jacket of vulcanized rubber for 

